on the
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"The Village"
gel ^Starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin
Phoenix and Adrien Brody
n, B r : ;
Review by Jimmy Hissony
ion r
ass
A seemingly puritan paradise is the setting for the
latest addition to the ever-expanding resume of M.
light Shyamalan, writer, producer, director and Alfred
litchcock protege.
The honest settlement of a handful of individuals
ecupying a rolling green vista stands in sharp con-
ast to the dense and dark woodland surrounding it.
PI nhabiting these encompassing forests are horrifically
illainous creatures identified by the townspeople as
those we don’t speak of” (which, in fact, they do
[uite frequently). The only idea that permits the com
munity residents to carry out the daily toils of their
nnocent existence is a vague pact between the eldest
if the populace and the creatures themselves regarding
ome basic boundary issues: The villagers don’t go
mt, and the creatures don’t go in.
Fueled by what he perceives as the benefit of the
mtire community, the border is ultimately crossed
iy the headstrong Lucius Hunt (Joaquin Phoenix),
ringing about the attention and activity of those
he villagers don’t speak of within the confines of
ies,"Ci he once unthreatened village. Intermittently mixed
letween the ominous warnings of the enraged crea
tes are episodes of love and loss concerning Lucius,
vy Walker (Bryce Dallas Howard), a beautiful blind
irl with unusual wisdom; and Noah Percy (Adrien
Jrody), this village’s idiot.
The list of current celebrity moguls that the audi-
nce will refer to as "the cast" for this film remind the
tarek newer that the Shyamalan steamroller of summertime
mccess has not yet slowed since its ignition in 1999
with “The Sixth Sense.” As a result; the viewer will
nerict ndulge in a superb display of talent that the grouping
Hildei: if these award-winning individuals induces. However,
eading the roster of A-listers is Bryce Dallas Howard,
is to»i laughter of director Ron Howard, making her cin-
imatic debut. Despite her lack of listing in previous
ovie credit reels, Howard’s inexperience is virtually
ransparent with the deliverance of a compelling and
moving performance.
The acting and idyllic greenery of the 40-acre set
erving as a picturesque position for the handsomest
)f Shyamalan’s films, present maximum potential
for the young writer/director. With extended practice
n the thriller genre, Shyamalan has mastered the art
)f scaring the audience in terms of sensations rather
win
IS 111
See Village on page 4
Aggielife
The Battalion
Page 3 • Thursday, August 5, 2004
"Just friends"
Opposite-sex friendships can he difficult to decipher
Will Lloyd • THE BATTALION
By Carrie Pierce
THE BATTALION
Men used to be from Mars, and women
from Venus, but nowadays, men and women
seem to be realizing that they may be from the
same planet, after all. As times have changed
and men and women aren’t only conversing to
determine if the other is a suitable marriage
partner, platonic relationships between men and
women are forming outside the bedroom. But
can men and women ever really just be friends,
or is there always a crush?
On “Three’s Company,” Jack, Chrissy and
Janet all lived together without sexual tension.
They dated, but never each other. On “Friends,”
however, Monica and Chandler got married and
Ross and Rachel had a baby, showing that some
friendships can get more than friendly. In the
1989 movie “When Harry Met Sally,” Harry’s
opinion was “they can’t be friends, unless both
of them are involved with other people.” After
going in and out of many relationships while
remaining strictly platonic with Sally, Harry was
right, and they, too, revamped their relationship
from friendship to romance. So, what scenario is
more likely to play out in real life?
Nikki Vanhightower, interim director of wom
en’s studies and senior political science lecturer,
said men and women can just be friends.
“They can have very good friendships,”
Vanhightower said. “But sometimes they can
evolve into something more.”
Male and female platonic friendships seem
to be happening more these days with younger
people, Vanhightower said.
“In the generation I grew up in, it was less
expected,” Van Vanhightower said. “Slowly we’re
beginning to see each other as human beings.”
Vanhightower said she credits part of this
change with the women’s movement and the
realization that men and women share some
of the same experiences and struggles. She
also added that some people can even be good
friends after they are divorced.
In an article in the Chicago Tribune, Dr.
Shirley Glass, a Baltimore psychologist, said
that people often deny what’s happening between
them and say they are “just friends.”
“Eighty-two percent of the 210 unfaithful part
ners I’ve treated have had an affair with someone
who was, at first, ‘just a friend,”’ Glass said.
Megan Schmidt, a sophomore theatre arts
major, said she can tell right off the bat if a guy
she meets has characteristics that she desires
in a romantic partner, or if a guy is just a great
person who would make a
good friend.
“I’ve never had a good
friend who I’ve developed
a crush on,” Schmidt said.
“The crush always came
first, if at all. I think once
you get to know a person,
you know either if there’s
something or you’re
going to be just really
good friends.”
Schmidt said having
male friends is important
to her because they are a
kind of substitute for her
older brother, who attends
a college outside of Texas.
Melanie Holsaeter, a
junior psychology major,
said there are several sce
narios when it comes to
guy-girl friendships that
ensure a true friendship,
such as if you’ve already
dated the person, or if
you currently are dating
someone.
“It’s awkward when
you have a boyfriend and
you meet another guy,”
Holsaeter said, “You
don’t know what they are
thinking.”
Holsaeter said she’s
never been friends with a
guy before dating them,
but that she has had feel
ings for guys she was ini
tially “just friends” with.
“Having feelings for a close guy friend has
made me realize the relationship I was in at the
time was wrong,” Holsaeter said.
Holsaeter said that crush on her friend, how
ever, was very brief.
“It can get very confusing,” Holsaeter said.
“No one can sort out their emotions completely.
You can love someone as a friend and it can con
fuse you into thinking it could work as more.”
She said it’s especially confusing when it
comes to being friends with exes.
“If you aren’t in a. relationship, you can be
friends with an ex, but if you are with someone,
it’s hard,” Holsaeter said.
Holsaeter also said it is harder to make
friends with guys when you have a boyfriend
because you cannot tell if the guy you meet sees
you as more than a friend. Sometimes guys are
just being friendly, but you can never be sure,
she said.
“Every guy I’ve met says guys can’t just be
friends with a girl and that they have underlying
motives,” Holsaeter said.
Chris Jeffus, a junior accounting major, agrees
with this concept.
“Girls can just be friends with guys, but very
few guys are just friends with girls in their own
minds if they are not forced to do so because of
an organization,” Jeffus said.
See Friends on page 4
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