ISS 20 (2007) MAR 16 - APR 18
The first couple times I listened to Fully Loaded’s debut EP, I didn’t know what to think. Then on a sunny day, I popped it in my deck and went for a cruise. The disc went zero to sixty instantly, and as I dropped into first, something clicked.
The first chords of kick-off track “It’s Alright” roar like a high-performance sports car down an open road. Brothers Mike and Andrew Twining, manning the wheel on vocals and guitar respectively, ably navigate this radio-worthy rockmobile. But under the hood, bassist Chris Ball and drummer Jovan provide the piston- and fist-pumping rhythms that will have you hammering the steering-wheel or punishing your dashboard as they propel Fully Loaded into the red.
For “The Way You’re Talking”, the band borrows the keys to Mariana’s Trench’s success, with dancing, rollicking guitars
and trundling, rumbling drums. Instead of the falsetto option taken by the Trench’s Josh Ramsay, Mike Twining opts for a substantial sound that doesn’t make you feel like less of a man for liking it.
With “When Will it End?”, the rockmobile taps into Vancouver’s unavoidable rainy day road-rage. Brother Andrew’s guitar
looms moody and threatening like dark thunder clouds; underneath Brother Mike anguishes in bumper-to-bumper futility, while the relentless rhythms fall like a steel torrent.
Overall, the lyrics aren’t the most compelling cog in Fully Loaded’s machinery. But closing track “Hollow”, a tender, acoustic confession that echoes in your eardrums as if it was recorded in a close-quartered abandoned apartment, was selected by MusicBC as the grand-prize winner of Songbird West songwriting contest. The prize includes a chance to write and produce with proven hit makers at Bananatoons/Shred Records.
It’s always a relief to hear radio-friendly, commercially-viable rock come out of Vancouver that sounds nothing like Nickelback. This perfectly-crafted debut EP promises a dynamic, high-octane live show and, with the band’s success in Songbird West and other competitions, a highly anticipated full-length CD due this spring.*
Liam Ford
This Spring’s Top 5 Shoes
Step into spring wearing the 5 must-have shoes of the season! This spring it’s all about color and shape, and the following 5 shoe trends will bring new meaning to both.
Brighten up the April showers with patent ballet flats from Joe Fresh Style. Coming in a wide variety of colors, these shoes won’t let you sacrifice comfort for style, and at less than $20 a pair you won’t break the bank. The line created by Joseph Mimran, the man behind
Club Monaco and Alfred Sung, is selling the Joe Fresh line exclusively at Real Canadian Superstore. Never has grocery shopping looked so good. Joe Fresh Style can be found at various lower mainland Canadian Superstores; see www.joe.ca for locations.
For a hot night on the town, slip into a pair of cone heeled shoes. Not just your ordinary high heeled shoe, this extra bit of heel adds ‘oomph’, and gives any outfit a sexy retro twist. Seen pounding the runways from New York to Milan, the conical heel is a must-have trend for spring. Look to Aldo for a great stacked pair with green suede strapping priced just below $90. Pair it with a spring dress for a fun, flirty look, or with a pair of jeans, for a more casual night out on the town.
Add some metallic to your wardrobe with a pair of silver shoes. The futuristic color was splashed across the fashion scene this year, making it a major trend for this spring season. It’s jewelry for the feet, lighting up even the simplest of outfits. Stop by Nine West and take a look at the wide variety of silver metallic footwear they have to offer. For those not fully committed to the silver trend, try a pair of silver ballet flats, shiny but still sensible. To bring out the inner fashionista, give the Lucite (clear hard plastic) wedge with silver fabric overlay a try, or the silver high top sneakers, both are guaranteed to have people sending you a look of pure envy.
Not able to get away this year? Bring paradise home with a pair of fabulous, exotic inspired wedge heels. Destined to be one of the hot sellers this season is the peep toe silk wedge, from Le Chateau. Coming in a rainbow of colors, this shoe is guaranteed to brighten even the dullest days. Try the yellow silk espadrille and carry sunshine with you in every step. And at an amazing price of just under $70, it’ll be the cheapest way to experience paradise this year. Visit www.lechateau.ca to sneak a peak at the other colors available.
If you love the idea of long walks in springtime but hate the idea of chunky walking shoes, look no further then this season’s sport-inspired footwear. Check out the Lyria canvas flats from Lacoste. At $125, these beauties will carry you wherever you need to go. Unlike your regular canvas sneakers, these flats have side cutouts and feature an ankle strap, letting you maintain your stylish edge. Visit www.lacoste.com to find a retail location nearest you.
Jennifer Patterson
Art : Jason Willmann (c) 2007
In these times when governments are pushing to redefine privacy and push their creepy electronic snooping devices into our lives, we look at two recently released films that examine government spy networks in two distinctly different cultures. In this issue of Kira’s Eye, we warn you to be careful, make sure you’re not being followed and choose your new friends wisely.
BREACH (2006)Robert Hanssen was a FBI employee specializing in Internet and electronic networks. He prayed each morning at a Catholic church, had a happy family life with a devoted wife and was fiercely devoted to his country. His was also an FBI agent turned spy for the Soviets, whose betrayal of his country has been called the most serious security lapse in U.S. history. Over his 25-year career, he managed to elude detection, causing untold havoc in the intelligence community.
The information he provided to the other side cost the lives of agents working for the US overseas. Breach is the true-life story of the end of Robert Hanssen’s career. Chris Cooper gives a mesmerizing performance as the creepy, manipulative FBI agent. Underneath his carefully groomed exterior, we see a man selling secrets for cash, watching porn on the Internet in his office and sending videotapes of lovemaking with his wife to his friends. The story establishes that the FBI is on to him but must catch him in the act in order to prosecute.
Ryan Phillippe plays Eric O'Neill, a young, ambitious trainee who is assigned as Hanssen's assistant. His job is to catalogue Hanssen's daily routines and report any suspicious activity to his superior, Kate Burroughs. Burroughs (Laura Linney) is strong and coldly efficient on the job. Her straight ahead, efficient attitude is contrasted to her evenings at home in a quiet, empty apartment. The reality of the lives of FBI agents, whose dedication to the cause takes its toll on their personal lives, is the subtext to this film. It’s almost as if Hanssen’s life as a double agent provided a more fertile garden for his so-called happy family life while the hard-working FBI agent like Burroughs sacrifices a personal life for the company. Eric O’Neill is under strict orders not to divulge anything about his assignment to his wife, Juliana (Caroline Dhavernas). This results in distress to their relationship where the husband and wife are supposed to be open and honest with each other. You begin to understand how it’s possible that Kate Burroughs must live alone. The acting is consistent and Chris Cooper is outstanding but the plot is linear and predictable. I kept waiting for them to throw in a curve, a surprise. I'm still waiting. It's a good film, worth a rental but not worth spending the price of admission to the theatre.
Running Time: 110 minutes
Two Stars Out of Five ‘
Breach’ is in theatres now and available for rental on DVD in June 2007.
THE LIVES OF OTHERS (2006)The Lives of Others deservedly won this year’s Oscar for Best Foreign Film. The story begins in 1984. East Germany is a Soviet block communist-totalitarian state run by a government that has a created a domestic spy network or secret police called the Stasi. This network consisted of 100,000 employees and 200,000 paid informants. That number of spies translated into one informant per 50 people, an astounding number of creepy, distrustful, power hungry people. This story is a depiction of this historical reality, not a cautionary fiction. We are introduced to a number of characters. One is Captain Gert Wiesler (Ulrich Muehe), a domestic surveillance specialist and interrogation expert who works at the Ministry for State Security. Wiesler is a dry, rigid, domestic spy who lives in a plain, boxy concrete building and whose only contact with another human’s flesh is his regular appointment with a prostitute. At a theatre performance with his immediate superior, Lieutenant Anton Grubitz (Ulrich Tukur), Wielser catches sight of poet and playwright Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch). He takes an instant dislike to this handsome, creative artist. Dreyman lives with his illustrious leading lady, Christa-Maria Sieland (Martina Gedeck).
The Minister of Culture (Thomas Thieme), who is also in attendance, lusts for this seductive beauty and orders a full surveillance on Dreyman's apartment. The Minister clearly wants Dreyman out of the way so that he can have the lovely actress. Grubitz takes note of the Minister’s lustful desires and has the minister monitored with an eye to exposing him and moving up the slimy chain of command within the Stasi. After bugging Dreyman’s apartment, Wiesler takes up residence in the attic of the apartment building and locks his eyes and ears on both the artist and the actress. Nothing that happens within Dreyman’s apartment walls escapes his scrutiny. The artist’s apartment is one of style and taste and size, a home befitting a successful artist and a sharp contrast to Wiesler’s state supplied concrete box. Wiesler is supposed to maintain his distance, but the lives of the others he's monitoring begin to infiltrate his consciousness. He is not blind to the fact that Georg and Christa-Maria live very different, more open, creative lives than his carefully controlled existence. In a moment of curiosity, he steals a book by Bertold Brecht from Dreyman's desk, an act that initiates a turn of Weisler's character.
The story moves historically to the destruction of the Berlin wall and the eventual opening of the Stasi files to the German citizens who could now examine their personal files. It is in this way that the story and characters find resolution. Unlike common Hollywood fare, this film utilizes excellent acting, sharp cinematography and careful pacing to establish a tone of fear and paranoia that slowly increases with each scene. This is a film about fear created by the state to gain control of the people and the distrust it breeds between friends and even lovers. It's a film that will generate lively discussion.
In German with English subtitles.
Running Time: 137 minutes
Four Stars Out of Five ‘The Lives of Others’ is in theatres now and available for rental on DVD in June 2007.
Allan Stanleigh
Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay
Ned, son of a famous photographer, and Kate, an American tourist become forever linked by their chance encounter in an ancient French church when a battle scarred man wielding a knife warns them that they've "blundered into the corner of a very old story". However, it is a story not so easy to walk away from. Kate, Ned and his family find that they are important players in a drama that has been dragging out for thousands of years.
This book is as unclassifiable as it is excellent. I know all books claim they have something for all readers but Ysabel is one of the rare books that just might. With shades of fantasy, romance, and horror set amidst a backdrop of finely detailed historical and mythological fiction this book is richly done and surprising. It's impossible to guess what may happen next when you learn within the first few chapters that anything is possible in Ysabel.
Old fans of Guy Gavriel Kay may not find it to be his best work, it's a little PG rated compared to some of his other books, but if you're new to his work Ysabel will make you a lifelong fan.*
Renee Mallett
Title.
Real Life “Mean Girls”
I have managed to avoid (for the most part) the cattiness and bitchiness among friends that so many women seem to encounter. I see it all the time – Jane gets up from the table and immediately it is “Did you hear Jane slept with Dave’s best friend?” “No! I heard she gave him the clap” “Does anyone even say ‘the clap’ anymore? Shhh – she’s coming!” “So I saw this super-cute purse at the mall today…” and so on.
I am a firm believer in what you give, so shall you receive (thanks, Mom!). Thus, I would never say a thing behind my friend’s back that I wouldn’t say to her face, and I would never stay “best friends forever – kiss kiss!” with someone I didn’t respect. For these reasons, I have developed a small, close- knit group of friends that I know will keep my secretest secrets safe, and will dance with me on the table instead of telling me to get down.
That doesn’t mean, however, that I have not encountered these she-bitches who never grew out of high school. While they may be fun to keep around for a while (since they always seem to know where the party is at), you must move on quickly, or you may become… (insert ominous music here)… one of them!
In the interest of keeping my fellow “sane” women safe, (and for all those poor men who also encounter these temptresses), I present:
How to Recognize, Protect Yourself From, and Ultimately Escape The Bitches of The World!
1) They travel in packs and lavish attention on each other – they have even been known to make-out with each other for attention. Yes, it may sound good at first…But never trust a tease!
2) They whisper. A lot. Look for whispers followed by a group glance in the subject’s direction, followed by laughing
and more whispers. Oh so cruel.
3) These women aren’t always the most best-dressed or prettiest girls; they can come in any form. Watch for women who budge in line, elbow people (including seniors and children) out of their way, yell ‘excuse me!’ at the waitress across the restaurant, and who loudly *sigh* when they aren’t getting enough attention.
4) One of the best defenses against this type (should you want to avoid their wrath) is to simply be as fake as they are. Gush over their designer (or clever fake) sunglasses. Compliment any choice they make (oh – I hear triple vodka martinis are great for your skin! And they must be right, seeing a complexion like yours!), etc. etc. As long as they are the centre of attention, they don’t have the time to make others miserable.
5) And, should a bitch ever confront you with hostility you have two options:
a. Smile with sincerity and apologize
b. Stare her squarely in the face and ask “what?”
“a” is a better option if you are caught in a customer-service position, but “b” is MUCH more fun. They can be tough fighters, those girls (they play dirty – spilling your dirtiest secrets {real or not} is considered fair game), but it is
infinitely more satisfying to watch one go down than your average opponent.
6) If you simply don’t have the time to cater to their whims (and who really wants to?), it isn’t all that hard to get rid of these women. Simply talk about yourself! The next time Marie calls to tell you about her horrible hair experience, cut her off and start telling her about your own day. She won’t be able to put up with it for long – what fun is it having friends you can’t walk over?
The world will never be rid of these high-maintenance, demanding and self-centered women. But by being able to recognize when you are in the presence of one will help your chances of survival (and sanity).
Good luck!*
Carolyn Sapach
The Departed – Spring Fat
Ok let’s be honest with one another. You, my self and a half of Vancouver put on a few pounds this winter. It’s not hard. Christmas alone is a dead give away but what about all those cold, rainy days, thick soups and excessive amount of carbohydrates and starches? Who is motivated enough to get dressed, get wet and on top of it, go for a run? Besides the dedicated beef cakes and club type girls, who really cares that much?
Good and bad news: spring is on its way and with the warming weather, we can longer can we hide unwanted bulges under bulky sweaters or oversized scarves. It’s time to work that body and get back into shape. If you’re like many other people, it’s going to take a slap in the face to get you to the gym. It’s such a hassle after a long day at work, and who the hell has that kind of energy? I say there are a lot better ways to get back into shape without killing yourself for it but it will take control, desire and taming of the ego.
We tend to want to stay engulfed in old patterns, meaning eating that extra helping or having a nap instead of a walk, we always want to be comfortable. Why? Our mind is our greatest enemy; it never wants us to win. Rather it would rather put us into captivity and subject us to a life of self consciousness and endless days of starring into the mirror at a tummy that just doesn’t stop growing. Instead of feeling bad about your self, start from this day forward and take action. Say to yourself, “I’ m going to get in shape for me, because it’s healthier and I will feel and look better than ever!” Write down your goals and stick to them.
Instead of a slice of toast or muffin for a snack, make a salad or have a fruit. Decide to only have dessert on the weekend and instead of pop or coffee, drink water or herbal tea. Here’s something really exciting: You don’t have to subject yourself to the hoards of weight obsessed gym goers to get a work out. Just go for a ½ hour to 1 hour walk a day and for half of it, jog lightly. Running takes time to work up to, so build your immunity slowly and soon enough, you won’t even want to miss a day. Habits take time to form and the good ones are what we want to cultivate, so decide here and now that the past doesn’t matter and first thing tomorrow, the running will begin.
Charity West
When to Ditch that “Friend”
We’ve all had to say “goodbye” to a not-so good friend now and then, but it can be hard. Here are some key traits of bad friends, so you can get away while you still can!
1) They can’t commit to you. When you try and make plans, and they answer “maybe… we’ll see… I’m not sure what my other friends are doing yet…” it means you are a diversion, rather than an important fixture in their life. Nice.
2) Right along with #1, they don’t call or show up even when they DO commit to plans. “Oh, Jim showed up with tickets to a concert” doesn’t mean they can leave you hanging for hours.
3) They borrow money. A lot. (And never pay it back). Whether it is their part of the tip for dinner or $100 to cover rent, if they are doing all the taking, YOU are their chump.
4) They gossip about you, whether you are around or not. It’s bad enough to have a backstabbing friend, but those who do it while you are in the room need to go!
5) The flirt with your significant other. With touching.
6) They only call to talk about their own problems, and never have time to listen to yours.
7) They don’t remember important dates (like your birthday/ baby shower/ stag/ etc).
8) They lie. Even if it isn’t to you or about you, they simply cannot be trusted.
9) They have to be exactly like you. This is the opposite end of the spectrum – rather than ignoring your needs, they want to be JUST like you. Some imitation is flattery, but having the same haircut, shoes and car is just creepy.
10) They abandon you. If they literally leave you somewhere, or if they emotionally check out during a stressful time in your life, they obviously are more into themselves than your relationship. Buh-bye.*
Carolyn Sapach
Pole Dancing
I’m sure you’ve heard about it, and maybe you even have a friend who has tried it. It’s like nothing I have ever done before….get out of the gutter - I’m talking about pole dancing! It seems over the past couple of years it has been all the rage. You can take group lessons, private lessons and you can even buy a pole for about $400! But what’s it like? Is it for you? Will you feel sexy while grinding up and down a brass pole or will you feel sleazy?
I went to Tantra Fitness (www.tantrafitness.com) in Vancouver for a beginner pole dancing class. Voted the best pole dancing studio in Vancouver, Tammy Morris owner and instructor is showing regular women how to feel and act sexy. The class was about an hour and I learned how to spin around the pole (lack grace in every swirl) and the basics to working the pole. I was impressed with how much attention she gave me, and each of her students.
She was able to pin point what I was doing wrong and made it very easy to learn a few tricks. I am glad that I wore yoga pants and a long sleeve shirt though; if you are new, you could get some Indian sunburns or have your skin squeak to a halt mid twirl! Be prepared to have a few bruises the next day, too. Tammy does her best to help you out, but it can be very awkward to let your body’s momentum do all the work. The insides of my knees and the backs of my legs were pretty mashed up, but I had so much fun it was worth it. I have been working out all my life, but man, this class kicked my ass. I have never used my pole dancing muscles like that (mostly forearms and back) and I felt it the next day! Tammy has 11 years of pole dancing experience, and believe me she is amazing on that pole! She did a little demo for us and I am sure it was only a small portion of what she can really do. With the various accolades to her name, including Best Pole Dancing Tricks (who even knew they had a competition for that?), I can see why her studio is packed 12 hours a day, teaching eager women how to get their sexy back.
Tammy offers a wide variety of sexy classes off the pole too, which I think must contribute to her popularity. Just the name “sexy flexy” which is a class that teaches you how to move in a sensual manor makes me want to go right now! She offers a Lap Dance class too, which will definitely have your man encouraging you to visit her studio as much as you like. Where else can you be taught to move like an exotic dancer, without having to actually become one? That’s what I loved about Tammy and her studio. She gives real women the opportunity to pretend that they are naughty sex goddesses in a fun, friendly and professional manor. That should be enough for anyone to want to visit Tammy at Tantra Fitness!*
Lisa Powell
WHAT: The Winner
WHERE: FOX
WHEN: Sun 8:30
Glen Abbot (Rob Corddry) narrates his life from 1994 when he was 32 and still living at home.
He works at a video store, is still in love with his childhood crush who has just moved back to town and has become best friends with her 13 year old son Josh (Keir Gilchrist).
Seth McFarlane is the man behind the show and in true Family Guy fashion, is a whiz at pop trivia references.
I've seen 4 episodes so far and it's actually quite funny -especially if you have a soft spot for the early 90's.
WHAT: In Case of Emergency
WHERE: ABC
WHEN: Thursdays, 9:30/8:30 C
In Case of Emergency – or as I like to call it, “A half hour of my life I will never get back.” This gem about four loser friends who met in high school 15 years ago, is predictable, boring, unfunny and in short, pure rubbish. It is filled with bad acting headlined of course by DavidArquette (note : just because your whole family acts, doesn’t mean you should too. You are the black sheep, son. Thank God Courteney Cox married you and move on!) and followed by Jonathan Silverman of Weekend at Bernie’s fame. That right there should tell you something. You’ve got the bitchy but hot female friend, the sensitive loser, the comic relief (meant to be comic relief) and the big dork who scores with his friend’s mom. The only plus is Lori Loughlin (Becky from Full House) and Jane Seymour looking good.
Yeah, that about sums it up.
WHAT: The Pussycat Dolls
Present The Search for the
Next Doll
WHERE: Much Music
WHEN: Wed 7:00
I think the "PCD" are basically rubbish and if you get any fit ladies and put them in some panties, they'll be just as popular and just as rich. I am all for sexy women but about 4 of the 6 look like men.
This "burlesque" (is that what we're calling strippers now?) group is in demand for certain venues and needs another member - because 6 isn't enough I suppose.
What's really going on is PCD "creator" Robin Antin knows people love reality TV competitions and thought she'd bank in on young, clueless women who are desperate to be seen.
Like most shows of this nature, there is a challenge each week where one girl is dropped. Last week there was a 'confidence' challenge where the girls were asked to dress in lingerie and dance around in a glass room in a bar for a room of onlookers.
Nothing says confidence like getting naked on TV to prove it!
It's rubbish but Anastacia is quite lovely.*
Laura V
Title: God of War II
Platform: Playstation 2
Price: $59.95
Graphics: 5/5
Sound:5/5
Control:5/5
Overall:5/5
I’m officially boycotting the next generation.
This cycle happens every 5-7 years and, to be perfectly honest, it’s both depressing and annoying as all hell. A new system comes out and all the games for it are very pretty to start, but they are mostly ports from other systems and half-assed sequels aplenty. As time goes on we start to see more and more original content and the quality begins to rise, but it’s not until 4 or 5 years into a system’s lifespan that we start to see the work rise from mere game to art as developers get a handle on the tech. We get a year or two or brilliant, genre-defining work from only a few talented and cost-effective developers, and then a new system comes out and it starts all over again from scratch. It’s depressing because if we just held off for a couple of extra years, we could very easily see a number of tremendous titles and developers would be able to focus on quality while keeping costs down, whereas by adopting newer hardware their costs would rise as would the development times, etc. Risk would be outweighed by potential for profit.
God of War II is a perfect example of this. The title is an incredible, near-perfect work. Like the original it is one of the only games made on current platforms that perfectly epitomizes the frantic action and fast exploration of 2-D games of yore. The graphics, sound, music and control are all as good as anything you’d find on a next-gen system. Where GoW II shines over all other titles at the moment is creativity. The original GoW set the stage like nothing had before it - the first level of that game where Kratos takes on the multi-headed Hydra on his own in the Aegean Sea is legendary. Not content to play second fiddle, GoW II ups the ante and actually manages to surpass the utterly amazing precedent of the first by throwing you into the middle of a war right away and then sicking a multi-story colossus on you. I won’t give away anything other than to say that it truly is like nothing you’ve ever seen.
And then you get to ride the Pegasus.
Mere hours in to the game there are enough mind-blowingly cool and legendary moments to put the title among the pinnacles of gaming history. This title will be remembered. The only unfortunate side to it’s tremendous quality is that it most likely signifies the last great title the PS2 will ever see. What a way to go out.
Title: Wii Play
Platform: Nintendo Wii
Price: $59.95
Graphics: 2/5
Sound: 2/5
Control: 3/5
Overall: 3/5
People are mad about it, enthused about it and eager as hell to get their hands on it, but a lot are still a bit perplexed by not only the Wii itself, but also the possibilities that it has for gaming. In part to take advantage of this as well as “educate” people on how to use the motion sensing controllers properly, Nintendo has released Wii Play, a compilation of mini games that focus on interesting and off the wall uses for the motion controller.
First and foremost, the title is worth a buy as a party favour, and it does come with an extra Wii Remote, but in terms of long-term fun factor? It’s running pretty slim.
The aesthetics of the title are pretty bare bones - demo level graphics and the cheapest sound possible. But that’s not the point - the control is the point.And in about half of the games the motion control works like a dream. The shooting range is like a twitch game of Duck Hunt (without the bloody dog laughing at me all the time) and billiards is an absolute blast. But for every good time there’s just as much to piss you off. The most glaring example is easily the laser hockey mini game. The control there is just so precise that it is almost impossible to get the hang of the controls in the span of a few games. Most of the games are fairly dull and unimaginative, and truth be told, with Wii Sports out there and packed into each and every Wii, there really is no need for this title (unless your hunting down an extra remote that is). Fun, but nothing extraordinary.*
Andrew Wilmot
MANDY MOORE
I first heard about Mandy when I was a senior in high school and thought she sucked. She was a mere 'pop star' then and little did I know she is actually quite awesome.
Aside from her acting (as her singing career is pretty much non-existent), she has a great person and has always been praised for looking gorgeous while being fully clothed. That's right, not only is she talented and gorgeous, she is skank free. And that's why Mandy Moore is this week's oven baked cookie.*