Beanie Man comes to Burlington

By James Strail
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

On Tuesday, Nov. 27, reggae fans from all across Vermont flocked to the Higher Ground performing arena in Burlington to see the reggae superstar Beanie Man perform live in concert.

The live performance sold out while most students returned home for Thanksgiving vacation. Bryan Barletto, a 19-year-old History major at Saint Michael's college in Burlington had to cut his vacation one day short in order to get a ticket to the show.

"I was supposed to drive home last Monday, but the box office was closed Monday night," said Barletto. "I decided to stay an extra night, and picked up the ticket early the next morning. There was no way I was going to miss out on the concert of the year."

Barletto, a native of Liverpool, N.Y., agreed that the $22 entrance fee to the Higher Ground arena was a little on the expensive side, but was "well worth the price."

The price did not stop students at Norwich from embarking on the 45-minute trip to Burlington to see the show.

Barnney Sandoval, a 19-year old sophomore here at Norwich, bought his ticket nearly one month prior to the event while he was visiting the Burlington area. The International Studies major from Alajuela, Costa Rica, hails Beanie Man as "one of the best Dancehall Reggae artists of today."

"I wouldn't miss this concert for anything," said Sandoval. "I only get to hear reggae when I'm at home, and this is a chance to get a little taste of my culture before I return for Christmas break."

Blythe Sanford is a freshman here at Norwich, and has never been to a concert before. The 19-year old English major resides in Stowe, Vt., and heard a great deal of the anticipation for the event before it happened.

"I've never been to a concert before," said Sanford. "I'm a big reggae fan, and I thought that if the show lived up to its hype, it would be great to make Beanie Man my first concert."

Some students have gone so far as to skip classes to attend the renowned artist's Burlington appearance.

Mike O'Hara, a 19-year old History major from Green Mountain College, stayed with his friends Monday evening at the University of Vermont in Burlington. The sophomore from Jamesville Dewitt, N.Y., got an early start Tuesday morning.

"I'm going to leave Rutland on Monday afternoon and stay with some friends at UVM," said O'Hara. "I don't want to miss a single second of the Beanie Man."

Although the amount of audience members was expected to be about 700, the concert was a success, with eager crowds gathering to total about 500 fans.

The Critic's Critic

By Christine D. Millette

Been too busy to go all the way to Montpelier or Burlington for a movie lately? Well, why not head over to the video store. There are plenty of really good movies that are perfect for a short break from the books.

The one highest on my recommendation list is Frequency. Time travel and changing the past has been tackled on the big screen several times (Back to the Future, Time Cop), but this is definitely the best one that I have seen.

A modern day cop, John Sullivan (Caviezel), finds his Dad's old Ham radio and, because of a mysterious sun spot overhead, happens to stumble upon a conversation with his father, who's been dead for thirty years.

Through talking, they manage to circumvent the problem in the fire that had claimed Frank's (the father played by Dennis Quaid) life all those years ago. As a result, the past begins to change, and new problems arrive. The father/son team works together over the 30-year gap to better the future.

The movie is exciting, yet smart, and does not get extravagant with its changes. It moves at a pace that keeps the watcher interested.

Rita Kempley of the Washington Post put it well, "Director Gregory Hoblit ("Primal Fear") does not shrink from emotionalism in this, his third film, though he peppers the cathartic fantasy with fireballs, shotguns, leather jackets and a dousing of beer and testosterone. It's like a chick flick for men--and the women who love them, sniff-sniff."

While almost making fun of the film, Kempley is right about the emotion displayed within the film. The core of the story is the relationship between John and Frank and how by changing the past they are able to have much more fulfilling lives.

The Post's Michael O'Sullivan said this, "What makes Frequency work - and it does, beautifully - is partly the film's internal logic. As preposterous as it is, the story sucks you in as inexorably as an undertow� It's as if the past isn't something that's over and done, but something running on a parallel track." This is definitely a movie worth renting.

Another movie that I truly liked, but would be hesitant to whom I would recommend it, was Center Stage. Another dance movie in the genre of Fame, It shows the difficulties of some of the best young ballet dancers in the world, trying to figure out just what it is they are after. This is a movie for those who love the performing arts and know the heartache and emotion that comes with it. For those outside of this group, however, this movie will probably not be of much interest due to the melodramatic nature of the relationships between the characters. If you are a fan of ballet, or any other performing art, this is one to see; the chorography is awesome, but I would suggest all others steer clear.