Valentine’s Day Extravaganza: reviews of top sex books...

page 3
inside
V=Day aphrodisiacal foods, restaurant reviews and alternative plans... page 4-5
(Un)romantic fashionable choices for both girls and boys... page 6-7 FRIDAY
“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
2.13.09

intermission
stanford’s weekly guide to campus culture
VO LU M E 235 . ISSUE 2
a publication of the stanford daily

ALSO INSIDE

APHRODISIAC FOODS:

The way to a man is through

his stomach...
Ways to stimulate your sexual
appetite “FRIDAY THE 13TH”
reduced to the typical slasher
...page 4 producepedia.com
...page 12
PAGE 2 VALENTINE’S DAY PLAYLIST
emember that post-breakup montage
R
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 . .
. band in the world. Moreover, there is some political message
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 fog-
ging up your hipster lover’s ironic nerd glasses this weekend.
“Paris” by Friendly Fires
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
sing to a lover. Perfect mix of yearning and optimism, but with
a touch of uncertainty.
“Beat Health Life and Fire” by Thao with The Get Down Stay
Down
This song shuffles along with acoustic guitars and some under-
stated 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.
“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.
MANAGING EDITOR LAYOUT EDITORS
Joanna Xu Kairen Wong
Jin Yu
2
intermission
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
Playlist Suggestion #2:
doesn’t work, however, then you should make this mix tape for
“I’m dating a Generation X-er”
Valentine’s Day to cheer them up:
So, you’re dating somebody in their 30’s. If you’re an undergrad-
uate, that’s kind of weird. But, hey — the heart wants what it
“Vampires Will Never Hurt You” by My Chemical Romance
wants . . . or the wallet wants what it wants. At least, so I’m told.
Now that is a first class Valentine’s Day promise. Who wants to
Anyways, Generation X came of age in the late 1980s and early
be hurt by vampires? Nobody, except maybe “Twilight” fans.
1990s, so their particularly perfect mix tape should include a
Show your undying allegiance through this classic emo tune.
healthy dose of grunge, sultry R&B, Melissa Etheridge and these
tracks:
“Deeper Than Inside” by Rites of Spring
This band basically invented emo in the 1980s. Hark back to the
“Black Gold” by Soul Asylum
slashing guitars and face-melting screams of the emo golden
To be honest, I’m not sure what’s going on with this song. It’s
age through Rites of Spring.
like John Mellencamp and Nirvana combined with the worst
-
“Great Romances of the 20th Century” by Taking Back Sunday
buried inside of its distorted guitars — oil is bad, the first
This song starts off with a spoken word intro about how “a
President Bush is really mean, O.J. is innocent . . . or something
beautiful girl can make you dizzy.” At least this is true.
like that.
Playlist #4: “I’m dating somebody that dances all the time”
“On Bended Knee” by Boyz II Men
If your special person just cannot stop dancing, then don’t run
Ah, Boyz II Men — the staple band of cheesy weddings and
the risk of dehydration and exhaustion and seek medical help
awkward middle school dances. Throw this track on the stereo
immediately. In the meantime, help them groove through the
and your Gen X partner will be transformed back to their 1993
power of pop.
prom, minus parachute pants and fades.
“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,
speak to them with lyrics like, “Wish I could I shut my playboy
“I’m Blue” by Eiffel 65
The best Euro-pop one hit wonder of the 1990s. (That’s high
praise.)
“Single Ladies” by Beyonce/Sasha Fierce
If your lover is really a dancer, then they should have memo-
rized 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.
—annika HEINLE
contact annika: anheinle@stanford.edu
FRIDAY
2.13.09
BONE TO PICK?
well then, email us!
intermission@daily.stanford.edu
COPY EDITOR DESK EDITOR PHOTO EDITOR
Samantha Lasarow Annika Heinle Amanda Zhang
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
W 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.
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 under-
standing 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
simonsays.com
Position of the Day: Sex Every Day in Every Way
This option may be the
most well-known of the four
sex books Intermission
reviews this issue. This “play-
book” has been gaining sig-
nificant 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-
Urban Tantra: Sacred Sex for the 21st Century BY BARBARA CARALLE
pleasureshop.com
with the horoscopes you find
in newspapers and online —
this book includes an accurate
and thorough examination of
signs based on birth date, gen-
der 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
The Hot Woman’s Handbook
Whether you are single,
attached, straight or other-
wise, 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
formed each day of the year.
Most of the positions are het-
ero-normative, but there are a
few same-sex forays scattered
throughout the handbook.
The positions are all incredi-
bly interesting, and even if
some positions seem to be
physically impossible, this
book nevertheless does a very
good job of providing a com-
“ This book, which is writ-
ten 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
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
sex. The book reflects the
feminist standpoint, making
the reader feel empowered,
excited and entitled to pleas-
ure. 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, dis-
pelling the myth that the
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-
orgasm all the way to breath-
ing 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
courtesy feb. 2009, fashion magazine
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
BY MELINDA GALLAGER AND EMILY KRAMER
female orgasm is sometimes helping the reader relate to
impossible to achieve. the content in the book. “The
This book is incredibly Hot Woman’s Handbook” is a
thorough, as well. It covers must-own for any woman
not only standard intercourse, planning to become sexually
but goes into the possible joys active, even if it’s just once in
found in all variations there- her life.
of, and discusses basically
everything under the sexual
sun. The writing is very funny
and enjoyable to read, as well
as filled with testimonials,
FROM NERVE.COM
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.
nerve.com
has in-depth instructions on al preference, so Intermission
how to achieve the elusive is confident that anybody can
“breath orgasm.” Who knew and will enjoy this foray into
you could orgasm just by Eastern religion.
breathing? This book has
loads of exercises that seem —annika HEINLE
ridiculous but may really contact annika:
improve your sex life if you
anheinle@stanford.edu
open your mind to them. This
sexual read does not display
an evident emphasis on sexu-
friday february 13 2009
3
 V-DAY: A DAY FOR L
Aphrodisiac foods: sure to whet your appetite!
ertain foods Celery

C were renowned
in the ancient
world for their libido-
enhancing properties pri-
marily because they possessed a sug-
gestive 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.
Asparagus
This vegetable’s evocative figure was long
thought to be a powerful aphrodisiac in the
ancient world, and modern nutri-
tionists admit that the excellent
source of Vitamin E may in fact
encourage sex hormone pro-
duction.
Oysters
Perhaps the quintessential aphrodisiac, oysters contain a
mineral that aids in the making of testosterone: zinc.
Historical figures like Casanova noticed an apparently strik-
ing 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 oys-
ters 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, conse-
quently producing a tame body high to get you, or your sig-
nificant other, in the mood.
Chocolate
Besides its silky texture and rich, multidi-
mensional taste, chocolate contains
phenylethylamine. Considered the “love
chemical” by many researchers, phenylethy-
lamine has a similar effect to endorphins in
that it both eases and invigorates the body, produc-
ing a subtle but relaxing high.
lovesplc.co.uk
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 miner-
als 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:
nina3@stan-
ford.edu

thedailygreen.com

Ladies, celebrate Valentine’s Day the Finnish way!

t’s that time of the year when offer. Here’s an idea: shop ‘til you and go to one of the many cute like “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”

I 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 cele-
brate Valentine’s Day the Finnish
way? In Finland, Valentine’s Day is
called Ystavanpaiva, which trans-
lates to Friendship Day.
There, Ystavanpaiva is celebrat-
ed as a day dedicated to the beauti-
ful 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!
An outing to San Francisco is in
order!
This Valentine’s Day weekend is
a three-day weekend, so take advan-
tage 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
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 top-
notch 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
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 cam-
pus 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 amaz-
ing 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
— 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 cel-
ebrate this year the Finnish way, and
I guarantee you won’t be envious of
your attached friends!
—julie NA
contact julie:
jna2012@stanford.edu

4
intermission
LOVE...AND GLUTTONY
Romantic restaurants for all budgets & couples!
f done right, a date for
I Valentine’s Day can make a rela-
tionship. 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 sug-
gestions 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.
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 atmos-
phere of a European Café is
admirably and truthfully re-recreat-
ed right on University Avenue at
Café Del Doge. Enjoy a plethora of
drinks ranging from a simple cup of
espresso to chocolate-based concoc-
tions 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
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.
Da Coffee Spot
Perhaps the strangest storefront on
University Avenue is the combina-
tion 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 var-
ious spreads, and wraps, are also
available. Perhaps the hookah con-
cept doesn’t seem romantic at first,
but if you’re spending the earlier
part of the day in a dark room shar-
ing saliva, things should be shaping
up quite nicely for later. This does
not, though, that Intermission
endorses the smoking of tobacco
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 pre-
pared 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 over-
priced and offers very respectable
food in a legitimately romantic set-
ting.
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 cer-
tainly won’t break the bank.
Perhaps what most sets Fuki apart
in this particular case is the setting:
the restaurant is serenly quiet, dec-
orated with Japanese wood and
bamboo finishing and backed by
prompt and exceptionally polite
service.
friday february 13 2009
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 dif-
ferent feel. The eclectic menu can
best be described as a combination
of Californian and Mediterranean
influences that would entice a food-
ie 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 per-
forming 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: tpolan@stan-
ford.edu
5
 Love may be more than skin deep, but looking good in your skin helps!
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
I
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.
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 inter-
view. Keep those navy, three-
button business suits in the clos-
et. You can be a little more fash-
ion 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 appropri-
ate 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 lovey-
dovey color.
6 are black with a red stripe.
intermission
for the guys
nordstrom.com
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)
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 selec-
tion 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
If there’s one piece that should
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.
Some basic guidelines to
follow, whether it’s
Valentine’s Day or just a nor-
mal day; trust us, your girl-
friend will notice and com-
pliment 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 attrac-
tive.
There is no such things as
“boy colors”
and “girl col-
ors”
Pink is fine.
Wearing
black also
does not
automatical-
nordstrom.com
t’s Valentine’s Day again. If you’re anything like me, you don’t ever care about hol- dent in your skin, then you’re the one who’s set the fashion code; everyone else is wear-
idays except as occasions to dress up. And if it’s an occasion — and this is hard love, ing the wrong thing.
girls — don’t bother dressing up if you don’t plan on impressing. So even if it’s Valentine’s Day, forget the standard pink dress and pretty, girly heels.
Take a page from Kate Moss’s book: If there’s a guaranteed way to be the center of Be creative! Intermission’s put together some outfits, both high- and low-fashion, for
attention, it’s by wearing the opposite of what’s expected. Moss always under-dresses to you to consider. They range from formal to semi-formal to very casual.
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
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.
amazon.com betray convention — and if you pull it off and look perfectly comfortable and confi-
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.
bakersshoes.com
The Semi-Formal Attire
Bebe Asymmetric Scarf Print Tunic Top ($98)
for
asos.com Urban Outfitters Sheer Tights (two for $10)
The Casual Get-Up Diesel white ankle-boots ($334)
Express Oversized Pocket Tee in white ($24.50)
the
Forever 21 H81 Chastity Denim Short ($22.90) If you’re feeling a bit exotic/fairy-like, this is
Urban Outfitters Sheer Tights (two for $10) the way to go!
Frye Veronica Slouch Boot ($328)
girls
urbanoutfitters.com
creativesneakeres.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 —
ly mean that you’re goth. We’re not we live in California. It’s not that
little kids anymore. cold here. There’s no need to wear
—amanda ZHANG forever21.com bebe.com
pants all the time. And even if it’s
contact amanda:
Loosen a few buttons at the top of express.com too chilly for tights, suck it up.
amandaz@stanford.edu
your shirt shopbop.com
But have caution, especially with V- Side note: If you follow these general fashion rules, whether on
necks — don’t go around showing Valentine’s Day or in your everyday life, you (probably) can’t go wrong:
too much he-vage.
Proportions Quality matters
Don’t wear a loose/oversized tee with baggy pants. What, are you going for the trash I love cheap clothes as much as the next girl. But don’t ever
express.com bag look? It might work occasionally on the runway, but unless you’re six-foot with legs sacrifice quality for quantity. Yes, quality is often expensive —
a mile long (and I go to Stanford, too, and I have seen people — you’re probably not), so wait for a sale, smart one. Or buy fewer clothes. Or
don’t try to pull that one off. You’ll look like a disaster. scrounge on E-Bay. Or learn how to navigate Forever 21,
If it’s tight on top, be loose on the bottom. Vice versa. Such a simple rule, but you H&M, Zara, etc. to find the right clothes.
can’t believe how many girls I see walking around wearing tops and bottoms so tight A general observation: denim shorts, some jewelry, vests
they might as well be in a bodysuit. And most girls don’t look good in a bodysuit, so and outerwear are sometimes great at cheap stores. Don’t buy
why are you torturing yourself? Clothes are supposed to flatter you — not choke you to clothes made of satin or cloth materials from cheap chains;
death and expose all of your unflattering parts to the world. they’ll fall apart in a few days. But clothes made of firmer
material, such as thick denim vests or faux-fur, are great.
Leggings are NOT pants Forever 21 even sells some real leather, as does Zara.
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 Be a splash of daring
leggings. If you try to do it, you will look even worse than Lindsay. You might as well Aren’t you a unique person? So show it! Fine, wear a T-shirt
be naked. If you insist on leggings, at least wear shorts or some sort of dress over it. and jeans—but add something interesting to spice it up. A
denim jacket with buttons and decorations. A studded belt.
It’s the clothes, stupid! An obnoxiously neon bracelet. It doesn’t have to be some-
Bill Clinton won the presidency in 1992 with such an obvious slogan—”It’s thing epic, just something different. Make it your default so
the economy, stupid!” Same goes for fashion. Of course, clothes should fit you — when you are having a boring dressing day, you put it on and
I never said fit wasn’t important — but equally important is the merit of the go.
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 See you around campus.
have a much greater chance of looking great on you. —Joanna XU
contact: joannaxu@stanford.edu
7
shopbop.com
friday february 13 2009

?
intermission
Q&A
with Producer Richard Suckle
allmoviephoto.com
I
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 pro-
duction. How did you go
about choosing the cast, espe-
cially 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, play-
ing 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 want-
ed 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
8 intermission
THE
INTERNATIONAL:
destroyed. let you walk in and film there Singer, the writer, to come up
During these for a couple weeks. We had to with the story. But once again,
scenes, I really figure out a way not first and foremost, we want to
found myself only to shoot there for the make an entertainment film,
wondering, day, which we did in January and hopefully we’ve done that
“How did of last year, but also to get job. As for going beyond that .
they do that?” them to give us permission to . . look, we knew we wanted to
So with that recreate the four levels of the make a movie, and it was
in mind, I rotunda, as well as the lobby, going to be topical. We defi-
wanted to ask which we did in Germany. nitely didn’t know it was
you — how What was great about going to be as topical as it is
difficult was it working with the today with the current finan-
to produce Guggenheim is since they are cial crisis; it’s just at the fore-
“ T h e a museum about expression front of everything you read
International” and artistic vision, they were in the newspapers and what
as compared very fond of the script and big you see on television. So it’s a
to other films fans of Tom Tykwer, and they good combination, because
you have were very excited to get you want to make entertain-
done? Can involved with this, and really ing products as a producer,
you talk to me a little bit adaptable in their negotiating but to make the movie rele-
very ordinary guy; he’s very of what day we could get in vant to today, that’s never a
about how some of these
intense, which is what there to shoot because they bad thing.
scenes were executed?
Salinger is. He was really just only let you come in when This movie has been in
RS: Sure. I mean, you know
perfect. And we were in luck they’re taking one of the development for six years,
every movie has its chal-
because when we sent him the shows out and about to put actually, so we could have
lenges. The situation we were
script, he responded and said one in, and their exhibits are never ever imagined that the
confronted with in “The
yes, and that’s how we got to sometimes booked for years story would coincide so well
International” was mainly
him. in advance, so we were lucky. with what’s happening at the
one in which we had to figure
As for Naomi, she was also So we reconstructed four time the movie was released.
out how we were going to be
one of the first people we levels of the rotunda in But we were always talking
able to shoot all the different
thought about, and what we Germany and we built the about the ever-growing cor-
locations, because it’s very
liked about Naomi’s role is it’s lobby set there as well, so we porations, these sort of
costly when you go from one
definitely a different character had everything we needed in monolithic corporations, that
location to the next and we
than she’s played, you know in order to film a really rough seem to be getting larger and
were shooting in Istanbul, in
“King Kong,” in “The Ring” sequence, so that when we larger, as most governments
Germany, Milan, New York,
series, and it really was some- went to New York we knew around the world are getting
we went to Lyon for a day . . .
thing very different for her to exactly what we had to cap- larger and larger, and the rela-
so the challenges, well, there
play an American, as well as ture because we only had the tionship between these corpo-
were many of them, but the
an American Assistant real Guggenheim for the one rations and the governments
biggest challenge I would say
District Attorney. We liked the day in January. and seemingly from that how
was trying to figure out how
idea of the role flexing her individuals are comparatively
to actually schedule the
muscles and challenging her i: I personally loved how well feeling as though they are get-
movie where we could go to
as an actress. And we just the movie captured some of ting smaller and smaller and
all the various locations,
thought the pairing of her and the major issues arising in feeling as though they have no
which we really had to. I
Clive, because we did get Clive today’s sociopolitical land- ability to make a difference or
mean there’s no way to fake
first, would be a good one. scape, namely the financing of cause change. And that’s the-
Istanbul. The movie really
And she as well — when she terrorism on a global scale. It matically what we were get-
required us to go to all these
read the script, responded and made for a really timely film, I ting at when we were develop-
places, and it was an organic
was a big fan of it, as well as a think. From your point of ing the movie, with Salinger
part of the script, this jour-
fan of our director Tom view, how much of the movie being caught up in a sort of
ney that Salinger goes on.
Tykwer, so it was one of the would you say is geared David versus Goliath battle. I
And as for the
easier casting processes I’ve towards alerting people to the just think it’s unbelievably
Guggenheim, to give some
gone through. complexities of international coincidental that the movie is
specifics on that, that posed
affairs as opposed to strictly now being released at a time
its own set of challenges. The
i: Watching the movie, I was entertaining people (because when the economic crisis,
Guggenheim scene, which
struck by how complex some it was a brilliant thriller)? which the movie is about,
was written into the script
of the scenes were, such as the RS: Well, as you know, we couldn’t be more relevant.
before Tykwer came on as the
fighting sequence in the want to make entertainment.
director, was somewhat of an
Guggenheim, where the entire The movie was inspired, i: Due to the timeliness of the
elephant in the room, so to
museum was virtually though, by the BCCI banking film’s storyline, there’s been a
speak. I mean the
scandal, which inspired Eric
Guggenheim won’t really just
power, money, MOVIE
conspiracy REVIEW

lot of hype surrounding the
movie even before its official
release. Given all this specula-
tion 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 ques-
tion, 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 bank-
ing 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 securi-
ty 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 hopeful-
ly 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 cer-
tain 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 real-
ly interesting way to involve
people in the “fiction.” I don’t
know how deep you got into
it, but there was one compo-
nent 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
“They control your money. They control your govern-
ment. 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 electri-
fying.
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 disap-
peared.”
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 activi-
ties of the bank suddenly vanishes. Despite these chal-
lenges, Salinger and Whitman remain relentless in
their pursuit of the villainous leaders of the all-power-
ful 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-
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 subcon-
sciously 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 con-
frontation: “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: arhoades@stanford.edu

Picturing Anonymity Every day we pass by hundreds of faces, riers to discovery identities?” and “My com-

“ 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 inti-
mately.
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-
steve lesser
munities at Stanford are . . . “
The profiles are nearly all nameless but
their handwritten answers reveal their deep-
er 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

friday februrary 13 2009 9

“SHOPAHOLIC”: Most untimely movie of the year
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 sus-
pense revolves around a debt collector simply
trying to do his job. Yet the filmmakers pres-
ent him as an evil man looking to ruin peo-
ples' lives. In the book, Derek Smeath, the
debt collector, is only appears in letters and
phone calls, but on screen, he's a bulldog-
esque nerd, with makeup and costume for the
audience to instantly hate him. Bloomwater is
$16,000 in debt for crying out loud! Keep in
Oh, the irony! Her boss turns out to be a dap-
per 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 audi-
ence never gets to read or hear any pieces of it.
We are left in disbelief as high-powered exec-
utives 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

O
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
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 infi-
nitely less intelligent than those two. Rebecca
mind, this is not from spending on important
things; it's from spending on designer clothes.
That aside, Bloomwater fancies her-
self a journalist, and in order to reach the
fashion magazine of her dreams, she applies
for a column at Successful Savings magazine.
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

C preparation for the Oscars,

this week Intermission took
a look at Kate Winslet’s latest
drama, “The Reader.” Not to be con-
fused with another Winslet-helmed
movie currently out in theatres
(“Revolutionary Road”), “The
Reader” has garnered considerable
critical buzz — it has been nomi-
nated 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 forbid-
den 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 quick-
ly 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
10
intermission
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 heart-
broken, but manages to move on
with the rest of his life. This point is
per se; she was just a guard at one of glossing over the atrocities of WWII Of course, whether or not I
where I start having issues with the
the concentration camps. The most and the Nazis. Even though the think this film deserves to win Best
film. Up to this point, the movie
gut-wrenching part of all of this is attention here indeed is on Hannah, Picture is another story altogether
had been focused on a secret rela-
that Hannah only became a guard I will argue that this is how it should as there is a plethora of outstanding
tionship — but then the story
because it was one of the only jobs be. This entire film is about the movies all vying for Oscar. At the
jumps forward a few years and the
available that didn’t require any tragic relationship between Michael end of the day, however, if you’re
next thing we know, Michael is in
kind of literacy skills. and Hannah. If this film were to interested in shedding a tear or two,
law school, where the latter half of
The tensions build up during focus on WWII and the Nazis, it or maybe just watching a movie
the story takes place.
the trial as Michael must sit back would be a whole different movie, with pro-literacy overtones, then
Instead of a romantic drama,
and helplessly watch the woman dealing with an entirely different “The Reader” is worth the trip to
the film turns into a heated court
that he loves go through this ordeal. subject. The fact that we actually get the theater.
case surrounding the conviction of
All of this is executed beautifully, to see and learn why Hannah If you like to read, go see this
ex-Nazi soldiers post-WWII. This
making the final verdict at the trial became a Nazi — as well as her movie! . . . Or maybe read the book
love story/court drama flip might
all the more tragic and powerful. remorse after the fact — is a per- it’s based on first?
be a little jarring to some viewers,
Before moving on with the spective we rarely think about when
but it is by no means a deal break- —kyle EVALDEZ
plot, I want to address some of the watching anything WWII-related.
er. In fact, we quickly become emo- contact kyle: kedemon@stan-
current critics’ concerns about this Top this unconventional topic off
tionally invested when we discover ford.edu
that Hannah is one of the ex-sol- film. Some critics condemn “The with a stellar performance from
diers on trial. In Hannah’s defense, Reader” because it focuses all of its Winslet, and you have an excellent
she wasn’t an actual Nazi soldier attention on Hannah, seemingly Oscar contender on your hands.
CONTINUED FROM
“INTERNATIONAL” PAGE 9
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 interest-
ing 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 orthope-
dics’ 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 pro-
vides a nice counterpoint to
the seriousness of the majori-
ty 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 loca-
tion in Istanbul and at the
Guggenheim was just amaz-
ing! We got to shoot almost
everywhere that we wanted to
and everywhere that was writ-
ten into the script, which is a
really rare occurrence in films
of this scale, actually, so that
was incredible!
i: Well it was wonderful talk-
ing 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 the-
atres today.
—ashley lauren RHOADES
contact ashley:
arhoades@stanford.edu
Roxy gives ... and recieves
Venus Flytrap
S
aturday marks the most horrifying day of the year for single women
everywhere, unless you’re a single woman whose paycheck comes from The idea of a flower eating what goes inside it doesn’t ring well
an industry that sells vibrators or chocolate. While Roxy sympathizes with guys (or girls) on any day of the year. You might as well buy him a copy
with women shouting “Love actually is so not all around” at their televi- of “Teeth” for a romantic cuddle.
sions, she faces a different dilemma: To give or to receive?
No, not that dilemma — that’s for another time. Vibrator
Finding the right gift for your significant other is no small task, This is essentially like giving your girlfriend Brad Pitt for
and you should probably give him or her some tips for your gift as well. Valentine’s Day. When it comes down to you and Brad Pitt, Brad Pitt will
There are some obvious don’ts: Don’t give your girlfriend that size-zero always get the girl.
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 Slug Porn
somehow survived the Valentine’s Day when her father gave her moth- Sure, you like it wet and slimy, but not this wet and slimy.
er a stud finder. (Seriously, not kidding.) Chances are you won’t be When a slug is looking for a partner, it gives its trail of
that lucky. slime a special taste to entice the females. Frankly, we
If you can master the art of giving, there’s a good don’t need more trails of who-knows-what on Row
chance your significant other will master it too. (Pun intend- furniture. (Check out slug sex on YouTube if
ed this time.) This in mind, Ms. Sass has decided to warn you’re bored. Or the kind of person who hangs
her readers about some of the gift mistakes that are surely out at the Stanford Red Barn “for fun.”)
to leave them alone in their rooms Googling “inflatable
sheep.” Bowling Ball
Not only is this sure to conjure up
Inflatable Sheep inadequacy issues, but let’s face it: This isn’t
Actually, just make that inflatable anything. where you want his fingers on Feb. 14.
Your significant other wants to see things expand on
Valentine’s Day, but anything part of a Little Bo Peep Seven-Foot Nude Oil Painting of His Dead
costume is not among them. Grandmother
There’s nothing else to get him down (literally)
Flowers and Chocolate like a naked picture of his dead grandmother. And if your
Nothing says romance like hay fever and weight gain. Frankly, boyfriend likes this gift, well . . . maybe you should buy him a
you don’t want your significant other’s mouth too occupied on Venus Flytrap.
Valentine’s Day, and let’s face it: Godiva tastes better than anything else you
can put in there.
CONTINUED FROM “SHOPAHOLIC” PAGE 10
moron, Fisher is so charmingly idi- the American economy can still be
otic on screen that you can't help but trillions of dollars in debt and be
like her; she is just so cute! Fisher okay, you will too," its all too telling
isn't at fault for the movie; the of the poor situation we find our-
screenwriters are. selves in now. If you're looking for a
With the release of cringe-inducing excuse for a come-
"Shopaholic," there will be a slew of dy that will only enrage you for its
reviews claiming that it is complete- insensitivity and brain-dead ele-
ly ignorant and out-of-touch, mak- ments, you will find all of that and
ing it so irrelevant and untimely that more in "Confessions of a
viewers should not bother seeing it. Shopaholic."
While that is all true, I cannot imag-
ine this movie being worth seeing - annika HEINLE
even if the economy were at a peak. contact annika:
The slapstick element that is sup- anheinle@stanford.edu
posed 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 communi-
ty. When a character notes that "if
friday february 13 2009
11
Movie Review 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
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.

friday the 13th

emakes are a great concept. Many of
interesting to captivate the audience. “Friday
the 13th” completely fails in imagination,
however: Jason effortlessly kills his victims,
Although its successes definitely merit a
remake, this most recent attempt completely
fails in bringing Jason back from the dead.

R
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
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 coun-
selor. 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 neigh-
borhood, 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 sis-
ter who went missing a month earlier.
Clay’s presence is just about the most
who barely put up a fight or have a chance — Instead of witnessing us the birth of a haunt-
it’s just too easy. ingly brutal killer, we get a run-of-the-mill
Besides the unimaginativeness of the horror flick. The horror “classic” gets dumb-
killings, this remake is also missing another ed down into nothing more than a mediocre
crucial aspect: motivation. Where’s the heart teen slasher. Sorry, Jason — maybe next time.
and reason behind all of the murders — or
behind the entire movie, for that matter? All — k y l e E VA L D E Z
of Jason’s killings are pointless, making the
contact kyle:
audience feel that he is killing for killing’s
kedemon@stanford.edu
sake, rather than to avenge his mother. The
only part in the film when
Jason’s vengeful motiva-
tions are slightly touched
upon is when he captures
Whitney, Clay’s sister. Even
then, however, Jason’s rea-
sons for capturing her are
never explained, and
Whitney eventually ends
up just another slaugh-
tered character in the film.
Also typical for slasher
movies, the acting in
“Friday the 13th” is

mayfield bakes up hot spot CONTINUED FROM “IDENTITY” PAGE 10

tanford students with an affinity Whitewashed railroad ties support the end to the Village Pub,” which is “neigh- develop leadership skills from the strangers they pass by

S for rustic California cuisine may

have found their haven in
Mayfield Bakery and Café, opening this
week in the Town and Country shop-
ping 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 fair-
trade 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 marsh-
mallows. 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.
12
ceiling, and butcher paper and votives
top the tables. The menu, like the pas-
tries 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 pick-
led peppers is excellent, and the menu
offers several other enticing veggie-
friendly options. For those under 21, a
selection of old-school, glass-bottle
sodas and floats should keep you con-
tent 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 col-
lege 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 blood-
orange butter.
Store co-owner Tim Stannard
borhood, 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 mental-
ity 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, sustain-
able and meaningful ingredients — an
ethos that shows up in everything from
varietal coffees to its parent company’s
organic farm — should make the learn-
ing 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 desti-
nation is open weekdays for lunch and
dinner, as well as weekends for brunch,
lunch and dinner.
—monica MIKLAS
contact monica: mmiklas@stan-
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 hop-
ing 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 stu-
dents. Through that process,
visitors might realize that they
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 present-
ed 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:

intermission says Mayfield is designed as a “book- are not so isolated and different
mollymt@-stanford.edu