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Movie &TV reviews 42 DRAMA Revolutionary Road Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet star as Frank and April Wheeler, a young couple unfulfilled by their mundane life in the suburbs. When they settle down on Revolutionary Road, they realize that their dream of marital bliss is quickly fading. April wants to move the family to Paris, a city Frank always felt was “alive.” Despite their neighbors’ disapproval, April and Frank pursue their goal to lead interesting lives. Grim realism The physi- wrapped in a cal and 1950s sheen emotional challenges that follow hinder the couple’s happiness as they struggle to keep their dreams alive. Based on the novel by Richard Yates, “Revolutionary Road” explores the realities of a crumbling marriage and apathy. Set in the 1950s, the glamorous, wholesome setting juxtaposes with the couple’s bleak prospects. The impeccable set and costume design help suspend a modern-day audience’s disbelief and bring us into a new world. Grim realism wrapped in a 1950s sheen is what gives this film its impact. Background music appears and disappears at the perfect moments. Silence adds to the tension during arguments, and music brings an unreal aura to other scenes. In the club, when April dances with her neighbor, the music creates an emotion - ally numb atmosphere. Music only appears where it would in real life – another element that many movies lack. Winslet, DiCaprio, Michael Shannon, and Kathy Bates all give extraordinary performances that bring the story alive. The leads’ previous work on “Titanic” produce a high level of comfort, allowing them to push even further. The emotional intensity is believable and entertaining, as is the fuming banter between the characters. Two complaints: Winslet’s American accent sounds unnatural, and DiCaprio’s violent scenes often feel melodramatic. Despite this, the film definitely deserved more Oscar nominations than it received. Shannon’s portrayal of the Wheelers’ mentally ill neighbor garnered him a well-deserved supportingactor nomination. Although the depressing Teen Ink • APRIL ’09 subject matter couldn’t have come at a worse time – with our economic crisis, food shortages, environmental issues, and so on – it’s still a must-see. Even though the main characters both “play the victim,” “Revolutionary Road” brings insight into the human experience. Unlike other films with similar story lines, the Wheelers’ arguments are free of unrealistic wit, and the ending is grim (but not without a surprise). Overall, this movie’s stellar writing, gut-wrenching acting, and remarkable directing make it an invigorating film. Although weak in spots, the gripping story line and talented cast carry it through. ✎ by Naomi Desai, Richmond Hill, ON, Canada This movie is rated R. COMEDY Confessions of a Shopaholic “C onfessions of a Shopaholic,” a romantic comedy based on the novel by Sophie Kinsella, will touch your heart and tickle your funny bone. Don’t let the title fool you – this is more than your average chick flick. The unique characters and witty dialogue make it entertaining for both genders. “Shopaholic” follows the story of Rebecca (Isla Fisher), a shopaholic who lives for Gucci, Prada, and Chanel. Life is good until Rebecca finds herself under a mountain of debt without a job. Be- Quirky and lieving she is charming applying for chemistry her dream job at a fashion magazine, Rebecca somehow lands a gig at a finance publication instead. Nevertheless, her column is instantly popular, catapulting her to fame and gaining the attention of her boss, Luke (Hugh Dancy). Luke and Rebecca share a quirky and charming chemistry, adding to the film’s humor. The actors play off one each other’s personalities, creating an adorable romance that audiences will invest in and root for as it grows throughout the film. Although the movie has over-the-top fashion, it isn’t overdone or too far-fetched. Audiences can relate to Re - becca’s vivacious and energetic personality, which Fisher portrays with charisma, but they can also understand her struggle to turn her life around. The movie’s balance of humor and heartwarming moments will leave viewers with a message about friendship, family, and living life to the fullest. With well-chosen music, fantastic fashion, and hysterical moments, this movie will entertain and leave you ready to shop! ✎ by Vicky Atzl, New City, NY DRAMA Nights in Rodanthe Based on the best-selling novel by Nicholas Sparks, “Nights in Rodanthe” manages a few tear-jerking moments, while squandering in unrealistic events and flat suspense. Diane Lane plays Adrienne, who is soon to be divorced from her clingy husband, Jack (Christopher Meloni). Adrienne has just about had it with life; she’s over-stressed, overworked, and exhausted from raising two kids. A weekend away at her friend’s beachside inn in Rodanthe seems the perfect getaway. At the same time, Paul (Richard Gere), a onceprominent surgeon in Raleigh, is still tormenting himself for a mistake he made during a surgery a year before. He Unrealistic uses Rodan- events and the as a time flat suspense to reconcile with the ghosts of his past. Adrienne and Paul spend a turbulent weekend together that ends with passion and sparks of hope for both. In the beginning, Lane and Gere’s chemistry seems awkward and forced, resulting in their characters seeming as fictitious as fairy tales. Yet as the weekend progresses, they come alive as though awakened from the dead. They truly begin to interact and portray their characters’ romance in a believable way. However, no dose of reality can save viewers from the over-stretched emotions that sap most of the movie. Lane clearly wants to make her presence felt, and thus, she overplays many of Adrienne’s emotions – laughing too hard at her friend’s jokes and reveling in passion when she reads Paul’s letters. Along with the unrealistic acting, “Nights in Rodanthe” has several technical errors. For one, the beachside inn’s location on the waterfront is obviously too close to the water. If the tide was lapping at its steps normally, it would have sustained major damage from the hurricane that blows in. In the same scene, Paul’s car is shown parked outside, completely unharmed, which is very unlikely considering the storm. The screenwriters have also altered several details from the book. In the novel, Adrienne recounts her weekend with Paul to her 30-year-old daughter, who recently lost her husband. The movie shows the scene with Adrienne and her daughter, but the daughter is a teen - ager upset over her parents’ pending divorce. However, only those who have read the novel will notice the change. Aside from its clear technical and acting flaws, “Nights in Rodanthe” is a beautiful example of Southern culture and scenery, from the sandy beaches and multicolored houses to the crab festival and classic Dixie music. If you love Diane Lane or Richard Gere or insanely romantic, cliché plots with a traditional Southern backdrop, “Nights in Rodanthe” should be worth renting. ✎ by Emma Rainear, Charlotte, NC COMEDY The House Bunny My limited experience with Happy Madison, Adam Sandler’s production company, has not been pleasant. For example, “Click,” with its juvenile humor and manipulative plot, tops my list of worst films of all time. So when my friends dragged me to Happy Madison’s latest feature, “The House Bunny,” my instincts told me to bail. I should have listened to my instincts. “The House Bunny” follows Shelley (Anna Faris), a Playboy Bunny who has just been kicked out of the mansion. In search of a new home, she finds a pair of college sororities: Zeta, a small group of unattractive misfits looking for enough pledges to keep their house; and Phi Iota Mu, a large, pop - ular sorority whose house mother and leader seek to destroy Zeta because its members are … unattractive misfits. After she is rejected by Phi Iota Mu, Shelley agrees to help the Zeta girls become more attractive and popular so they can gain pledges. By the end of the movie, Shelley and the girls learn that appearances aren’t everything and you should be who you are. Where do I begin? First, let’s examine the main problem with the plot: the antagonists. In order for a story to be plausible or intriguing, both the protagonist and antagonist must have a reasonable motivation. Here the protagonists’ motivation makes sense, but it’s not clear why the members of Phi Iota Mu want to demolish Zeta. Sure, they might not look like … well, like Playboy Bunnies, but Clichéd, hypocritical, chauvinistic that makes them less threatening. Phi Iota Mu has nothing to gain from Zeta’s downfall and nothing to lose from its uprising, so how are we supposed to believe these characters? The most insulting aspect of the film is its message. Besides being cliched, it’s hypocritical; the film exploits the heck out of the same chauvinist views it condemns. By the time Shelley proclaims that appearances don’t matter, dozens of impossibly “attractive” characters and walk-ons have already pranced around in skimpy outfits onscreen for 90 minutes. In addition, the only characters who don’t look like Playboy Bunnies are automatically typecast as hideous wildebeest until Shelley makes them over to look like every other plastic runway model in the movie. I kept asking myself, “Is there anyone in this movie who looks normal?” The attempt at a message almost seemed more like an excuse for the filmmakers to say, “We didn’t just make a piece of superficial garbage filled with unrealistic swimsuit models! We think brains and personality are important too!” Don’t believe it for a second. Now, you may be thinking, This is a comedy. It’s just supposed to be funny! And you’re right – but this movie isn’t funny. All the jokes were written only to confirm either that Shelley is as vain and stupid as Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson combined (imagine an entire movie of “I don’t eat buffalo” jokes), or that the girls of Zeta are hideous and unpopular. Believe me when I say that these jokes are not funny. Clichéd? Sure. Superficial? Definitely. Stereotypical? You bet. But not funny. Happy Madison pictures just keep getting worse and worse. You definitely won’t see me at the next one. ✎ by Jake Oakley, Bloomington, IL COMMENT ON ANY ARTICLE AT TEENINK.COM USING THE ADVANCED SEARCH
FICTION Life of Pi by Yann Martel Pi Patel is a 16-year-old boy who takes a ship with his family and their zoo animals from India across the Pacific Ocean. Before they reach Canada the boat sinks, and Pi is thrown overboard and onto a lifeboat. He soon realizes he is not alone; with him are a hyena, an injured zebra, an orangutan, and a 450-pound tiger named Richard Parker. Pi must use all his knowledge and courage to survive. When the book begins, Pi is Stuck in a lifeboat with a deadly tiger already an adult, settled in Canada, reliving his childhood. He describes that he was born into Hinduism but discovered Christianity and Islam during a family vacation. He also spends time at his family’s zoo and the swimming pool. And then his family decides to sell some of their animals and move to Canada. And this is how the ship sinks and Pi is stuck in a lifeboat with a deadly tiger. As the tiger kills and eats the others, Pi uses his knowledge from working at the zoo to try to tame him. I really enjoyed Life of Pi. I especially liked Pi’s point of view and how the book began when he was already an adult. Yann Martel really made Pi come to life. Even though the plot seems far-fetched, Martel’s writing makes it seem plausible and real. I also liked how he developed Pi’s character. It was interesting how Pi was religious and scientific. These characteristics usually don’t mix well, but Martel pulls it off. I really liked the book because it was exciting and very different. ✎ by Alison Rossini, Whitmore Lake, MI MEMOIR When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago You are probably wondering why in the world you should read this book. Plain and simple, it shows you the trials that immigrants face when they move to the United States, including the many differences in language and culture. For example, when Esmeralda was growing up in Puerto Rico she would hear baladas, and when she got to New York, the music was rock and roll. In addition, the book shows what it’s like to have parents who are constantly fighting. This book was great to read because I can relate to it; I am The trials immigrants face from Puerto Rico and know the whole jibaro lifestyle. However, the book is about a girl and what she has to live with: her parents never get married and her dad has a daughter with a different woman. This novel also shows the customs of Puerto Rican people, like their small shops and traditional foods. Author Esmeralda Santiago was raised in Puerto Rico and when her mom gets a job, they move to New York, leaving their old life behind. Her life there is difficult because she is responsible for her younger siblings and herself. When I Was Puerto Rican is perfect for those who like books that have real meaning. Sometimes it will make you sad and other times it will make you laugh. I highly recommend it to everyone. ✎ by Luar Orriola, New Castle, DE FICTION A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini You might not realize how lucky you are to live in the United States, a land of freedom, until you read A Thousand Splendid Suns. This book excellently portrays a saga of Middle Eastern families. It’s like Khaled Hosseini is telling his own experience and remembering every moment, even though he isn’t. Hosseini easily details the inhuman Makes you appreciate being an American character - istics of Rasheed, Mariam’s and Laila’s husband. I liked this book because the author gives you background on the characters and makes you wonder about them. Toward the end it all begins to make total sense. The book is so unpredict able; you think you know what will happen next, but you never do. The characters don’t have the opportunity, like Americans, to live in peace and freedom, and every day Laila and Mariam face a world of tragedy and the fear of being beaten to death by the husband they once trusted. I enjoyed this book very much and strongly recommend it to anyone who likes dramatic, well-thought-out stories with plot twists. Hosseini makes you appreciate being an American, especially for women, but the best part is really the way he writes – it is simply heartstopping. ✎ by Anastasia Pleasant, Bethel, AK THRILLER Firestarter by Stephen King Never get on the bad side of eight-year-old Charlie McGee. Sure, she has tantrums like any other child with screaming and crying, but getting stuck in the middle of one of Charlie’s fits could leave you a little crispier than before. Charlie has a talent, and her A game of cat and mouse … and fire powers are envied by the organization responsible for them. Now it’s a game of cat and mouse … and fire. Firestarter has a unique way of dropping a plot line and then picking it up later. Also, the story develops every character so you learn what makes them tick – what they think about, what they worry about in a way that directly applies to the plot. Firestarter is a story like no other with an ending that could have you in tears, making it the perfect book for anyone with a taste for irony, action, rebellion, science, and a life-or-death battle for what is right. ✎ by Bradi Heaberlin, Greenwood, IN FICTION A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks Set in Beaufort, North Carolina, in the 1950s, A Walk to Remember tells the story of 17year-old Landon Carter, who learns to live life differently after meeting Jamie Sullivan. Initially, Landon is the kind of guy who cares too much about what people think of him. But when Jamie comes into the picture, he VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE ARTICLES ON TEENINK.COM AND TEEN INK RAW only cares about being with her. Things are looking up for Landon, until Jamie drops a bomb that changes their lives forever. In A Walk to Remember, the characters take time to get to Sparks emotionally engages the reader know each other and end up falling in love. Like other novel- ists of realistic fiction, Nicholas Sparks emotionally engages the reader. A Walk to Remember reminded me of all of Lurlene McDaniel’s novels, because both authors use themes of love and death. A Walk to Remember is a book that you will not want to put down until you’ve reached the last page, because Sparks draws the reader in with emotions, descriptions, love, and death. For those who enjoy novels that touch your heart and make you think about real life, A Walk to Remember is perfect for you. ✎ by Stephanie Sanchez, Prosser, WA SCIENCE The Universe in a Nutshell by Stephen Hawking Ifound Stephen Hawking’s The Universe in a Nutshell very disturbing. Before I read it, I had considered logic the rule of the world. Through logical reasoning we can learn our past, predict the future, interpret every phenomena, and find the right way to do anything. Hawking’s book made me doubt my confidence in logic. He introduced me to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle and Gödel’s first incompleteness theorem. The uncertainty principle states that we cannot learn, precisely, a particle’s position and momentum at the same time. Gödel’s first incompleteness theorem states that in any mathematical system, there always exists at least one statement that can neither be proved nor disproved. I was shocked to learn this! Even things as simple as the natural number couldn’t be perfectly defined by our logic. How could this be the general rule of the intricate world? The impact that these concepts had on me was comparable to a Roman Catholic losing his belief in God. As a rationalist, I believe in nothing except science and logic, and Heisenberg and Gödel crushed my entire belief system. For a few weeks, whenever I was learning anything about math, I would always think, There is a Gödel statement in this system. And then I’d feel depressed and not want to learn any more. I had similar feelings when I was learning physics. I was lost and didn’t know what to believe. It was the end of the world for me. After a period of depression, I realized that logic is not an Made me doubt my confidence in logic absolute objective rule but a way that humans comprehend the world. It is based on the thought of an individual. It is the limitation of rationality, and I had been naive not to realize it until then. Comparing this new realization to literature, I now understand why some people prefer Agatha Christie to Arthur Conan Doyle; she realized the limitation of rationality and invented Miss Marple, who investigates cases based on her perception of people’s nature and emotions as well as logical reasoning. In summary, my new acquaintance with Hawking, Heisenberg, and Gödel has caused me to look at the world in an entirely new way. I have gained a greater appreciation of its complexity, and I realize there is no general rule to explain it. To perceive the fullness of reality, we need not only logic but abundant knowledge and experience of history, humanity, and science. They are essential to advance our understanding. ✎ by Yongzuan Wu, Culver, IN Photo by Isabelle Ingato, Toms River, NJ APRIL ’09 • Teen Ink Book reviews 43
Page 1 and 2: APRIL 2009 O U R 20 T H Y E A R T E
Page 3 and 4: A PRIL 2009 COVER FEATURES The Coll
Page 6 and 7: non•fic•tion 06 Boot Camp Adven
Page 8 and 9: non•fic•tion 08 School for the
Page 10 and 11: non•fic•tion 10 The Hospital Vi
Page 12 and 13: artgallery 12 Teen Ink • APRIL
Page 14 and 15: opin!on 14 Facebook Snoop by Kristi
Page 16 and 17: heroes 16 Grandmother Anna Purvianc
Page 18 and 19: FOCUS COLLEGE FOCUS 18 My Childhood
Page 20 and 21: FOCUS COLLEGE FOCUS 20 Is the SAT U
Page 22 and 23: FOCUS COLLEGE FOCUS 22 Parting Ways
Page 24 and 25: FOCUS COLLEGE FOCUS 24 How Public S
Page 26 and 27: college essays 26 Failing Successfu
Page 28 and 29: educatorof year the Kathy Nelson LA
Page 30 and 31: UA has a rich tradition of excellen
Page 32 and 33: Suffolk University, located in vibr
Page 34 and 35: Poetry 34 I Got the Joy! I got the
Page 36 and 37: you&your health 36 Pipe Dreams by D
Page 38 and 39: Travel&Culture 38 A Summer of Exces
Page 40 and 41: Video Game reviews Read more video
Page 44 and 45: fic•tion 44 Her, Him and the Rece
Page 46 and 47: fic•tion 46 Improvising by Onjuli

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