Ian Hutchinson Kara Hodge - Entertainment Beat

Your Entertainment Beat reporters have brought you a holiday gift-guide for those hard-to-buy-for people. Here are a few personality types and the gifts we would recommend.

The Thrill Seeker

This person's hobbies include bungee jumping, skydiving, climbing things they probably shouldn't, and playing ultimate frisbee on Sanford Mall with an energy that could fuel a fighter plane.

Books -- "The Worst Case Scenario Handbook" by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht. It is the ultimate guide to escaping quicksand, wrestling alligators and jumping from a motorcycle to a car (or vice-versa).

Movies -- "Mission Impossible 2" starring Tom Cruise or "Gladiator" starring Russell Crowe. These two films epitomize the thrill of the chase and the thrill of ... well, a bunch of really unrealistic feats that each hero accomplished.

Music -- "Human Clay" by Creed or "White Pony" by the Defttones. These two hard rock albums serve as the perfect background music for the Thrill Seeker's daily life-threatening events.

The Cynic

You'll notice this person in a local coffee shop brooding over the latest news, drinking their overpriced mochaccino and complaining about how pop culture is being destroyed by MTV. This person will debate you on anything from the theory of evolution to SupermanÕs sex life.

Books -- "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft" by Steven King or "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams. King's memoir is an interesting insight into some of the strangest stories of our time. Adams' modern science-fiction story has humor reminiscent of Monty Python.

Movies -- Any Kevin Smith film will do ("Mallrats," "Dogma," "Chasing Amy" or "Clerks"). "High Fidelity" stars John Cusack, who is cynicism personified.

Music -- Avoid the "crappy mainstream pop," as the Cynic would refer to it (i.e., any boy band or Britney Spears). Albums by Ani DiFranco, Radiohead, U2 or Arrested Development would do.

The Raver

This night owl lives it up between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. dancing to music that would give the average person a splitting headache. Decked out in red or black leather with a pacifier strapped around his or her neck, this person lives to feel good.

Books -- Get them a subscription to Spin magazine. They actually talk about music and cover a lot of good underground DJs.

Movies -- "Go" staring Katie Holmes, Jay Mohr and Scott Wolf. This film is about life in the fast lane, and although it isn't all about raving, the pace of the film is about as fast and frenzied as a rave.

Music -- Sasha and John Digweed's "Communicate" or Moby's special edition box set "Play," which includes a B-sides disc.

The Happy-Go-Lucky Type

You'll find this person laughing and smiling about basically anything, even if their dog just died.They don't walk, they bounce into a room. Being around them is like being in the Florida sun -- you need sunglasses to see them, they're so bright.

Books -- "Life: Our Century in Pictures" edited by Richard Stolley. This giant size coffee table book is a glimpse into the most beautiful photographs published in the magazine. It's a feel-good book.

Movies Ñ "The Princess Bride" starring Robin Wright, Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin. It's the story about a guy defeating the enemy and getting the girl. Also, "When Harry Met Sally" starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan -- a story told through the friendship of a man and a woman who are convinced that members of the opposite sex can only be lovers, not friends.

Music -- Jump Little Children's "The Licorice Tea Demos" or Angie Aparo's "The American." These are two really nice pop albums.

The Romantic This person is traditional and sentimental -- not one to rock the boat.They enjoy truth rather than fiction and are mostly idealistic. You can find the Romantic in the magazine section of Barnes and Noble reading the latest edition of Time.

Books -- "Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus" by John Gray.

Movies -- "Forrest Gump" and "Men of Honor" -- two movies about overcoming adversary or disability. "Playing By Heart" starring Sean Connery, Angelina Jolie and Jon Stewart is a soap opera-style story that ducks the "chick-flick" stereotype by casting characters that interest men too.

Music Ñ Sarah McLachlan's third CD "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" or Ben Harper's "Burn To Shine."

'The W' just in time for a hip-hop holiday

Ty Brueilly Sports Minor

For most people, the most highly anticipated day of the year is Christmas Day.

But for hip-hop heads, the anticipated day has already arrived: Nov. 21, when Shaolin's finest, the Wu-Tang Clan, returned.

Recently the Wu-Tang Clan (WTC) released their third album entitled "The W." This is the clan's first group effort since the 1997 double-album "Wu-Tang Forever." The time span is much different from the norm of average hip-hop artists who seem to drop albums every week.

But for the fans, it has been well worth the wait; WTC proved that the extra time spent was not time to just chill, it was time to perfect their music.

In the world of hip hop, itÕs easy to get wrapped up in rhyming about things such as green, gold and girls. For producers, itÕs easy to get sidelined in laying down the same beats and backgrounds. In this aspect, WTC refused the easy way and took the hard route.

They came with what made their first LP "Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)" a classic, and brought rugged New York-type beats and rhymes.

The Wu-Tang Clan includes rappers the RZA (rizz-a), the GZA (jizz-a), U-God, Masta Killa, Method Man, Raekwon (ray-kwan), Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck and Cappadonna.

Head-Wu Gambino the RZA proved to be original in all his beats and produced all 15 tracks on "The W." The RZA also stepped up to prove his MC-worth by spitting some hot rhymes in most of the tracks.

As the introduction fades into first track "Chamber Music," Method Man says, "We're baaaack." With these words the fun begins, and it is sweet candy to the ear from there on.

On "Careful (Click, Click)," the WTC makes the truth about the average ghetto known and helps raise awareness of how the ghetto really is. Cappadonna says, "Something in the street went Bang Bang, makin' it hard to do your Thang Thang."

Also on this track, Inspectah Deck spits his hottest rhyme of the album and says, "Someone in the back went Clack, Clack / Money in stacks, now bust that, Clack, Clack / Made 'em throw they hands up and then lay flat / Rat pack, eat up the average alley cat / Prepare for the impact, when we contact / Known to drop backs, that crack your hard hat / Must I show and prove, trust I, bust I, make your head spin / Like twentyÕs on the buggy-eyed Benz / Who contends? Wu's like the Superfriends / Who's your rhymin' hero, Wu-Tang strikes again."

In "Hollow Bones," the undeniable Wu-duo of Raekwon and Ghostface Killah invites Inspectah Deck to join in.

In "Redbull," the RZA realizes the hip-hop nation's addiction to the deadly combination of Method Man and Redman and puts together a track that is sure to get the listener out of his or her seat and jumping. Redman begins the song by saying, "The RZA came and got me, so this is what I came to do."

The RZA then comes with what seems to be what the Wu-Tang fan has been craving: a bit of reggae mixed in with the RZA's hard beats and WTC rhymes.

Junior Reid is featured on this track called, "One Blood Under W" and later in "Jah World" and delightfully brings this new dimension that can't be reckoned with and is sure to catch your ear.

With Ol' Dirty Bastard (ODB) in rehabilitation he was limited to only appear in one track, "Conditioner," where he sides with the Dogfather himself, Snoop Dogg.

The RZA holds nothing back by coming to end the album with four possible hip-hop anthems in "Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)," "Do You Really (Thang, Thang)," "Gravel Pit," and "The Monument," featuring wild rhymer Busta Rhymes.

The RZA also recruits other greats to appear with the WTC such as Nas in "Let My (People) Live" and Isaac Hayes in "I CanÕt Go to Sleep." But with all the appearances of these great artists, the album is still WTC to the fullest.

If you pick up the limited-edition version, you get an extra track called "Clap" which is reminiscent of the 1993 WTC track "M.E.T.H.O.D. Man."

For hip-hop fans, "The WÓ is a sure-fire stocking stuffer and may even be the favorite present under the tree.

Kara Hodge - Entertainment Beat

There are thousands of Christmas CDs you can buy for the holidays.

Tons of artists from pop stars like N*Sync to divas like Celine Dion and Mariah Carey have their own versions of the traditional Christmas songs. Some even get a little crazy and write their own.

Although it can be annoying to hear our MTV stars belt it out on "Silent Night" and "O Holy Night," there is still some sort of good feeling that comes from hearing them.

"Your King Has Come," a Christmas album composed of various Christian artists, is the perfect example of what a good holiday CD is. In the absence of pop stars and divas, "King" takes traditional songs and revamps them into a lighter groove.

This Christmas album is different than the typical holiday CD. It is composed of musicians and artists who celebrate the birth of Christ as the sole purpose for the season. "King" is a collection of songs born out of a community of artists and produced by Matthew Smith.

The album "represents the heartcry of the people of God. Christmas captivates our imaginations and brings us to our knees," said Smith on his Web site, detunedradio.com.

Musicians like Derek Webb from the folk-rock band Caedmon's Call and Andrew Osenga from the Normals are featured on the album.

There are a few new worship artists, like Katy Bowser and Mandy Ihrig, who have collaborated with Smith to produce "King."

Jill Phillips, who went on tour with Caedmon's Call this year, covers "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear," acoustically. Smith isn't just the producer of ÒKing," he's also one of the artists.

He covers "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" in a stirring and graceful way. The good stuff: "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" sung by Sandra McCraken and Webb is a beautiful, new version of the old hymn.

Webb's voice is unique as ever, and McCraken's harmony is the perfect addition to the acoustic guitars. Osenga's "Of the Father's Love Begotton" is reminiscent of folk star Bob Dylan Ñ his voice is rough, low and jagged.

It's the coolest version of the ballad this critic has heard. "What Child Is This," covered by Cerveny, is a powerful rendition of a song about a child born in a manger. Cerveny's talent lies in his humble approach to the lyrics of a song.

Jeremy Casella, whose second album, "Alive Inside," won Indie Record of the Year from Detuned Records, sings his original song "Joyful Fire."

His lyrics are the story of the angel of God telling the shepherds in the field that a savior is born: "There was glory in the air/ There was music in the sky/ I saw an angel who said to put my fear aside."

The not-so-good-stuff: Not a good CD to get pumped for the holidays about. It is continually soft and continually slow. "King" is a good buy.

It's a beautifully crafted CD. The album has a soft and honest sound. It's something to listen to while you're relaxing over the holidays.

For more information about the artists on "Your King Has Come" or to order the CD, check out the Web site at www.detunedradio.com.

Ian Hutchinson - Entertainment Beat

'Twas a month before Christmas and there was a feature, Based on a rather unscrupulous creature. It wasn't the best flick, but it worked in a pinch, The film starred Jim Carrey and was called "The Grinch."

Now, The Appalachian thinks it's long overdue, That a movie review be in rhyme, how 'bout you? It's a story that's based on Dr. Seuss, after all, And this critic, for one, will be having a ball.

The film's set in Whoville where Whos like Christmas a lot, But there is one Who in Whoville who really does not.

His name is The Grinch and he is quite mean, And Jim Carrey brings him to life on the screen.

All Whos in Whoville think the Grinch is a jerk, Because hating Christmas has been his life's work.

But one little Who thinks the Grinch has a heart, It's not much to go on, but hey, thatÕs a start. As the story unfolds, we see the Grinch ranting, About the holiday all Whos find enchanting.

Our little Who learns about some events in the past, And tries to make the Grinch like Christmas (that'll last). It's not like we're giving any plot lines away, The Grinch goes out and steals Christmas anyway.

Both he and his dog hop in a sled, And jet into Whoville to paint the town red. Now that I've taken you straight through the plot, Let's look at the acting and see what we've got. The Who's are quite bland and not all that grand, but that would typify a Who.

As for Jim Carrey, his Grinch isn't scary but fun and entertaining, unless you're a Who. But there were two moments that this film sunk south, When Carrey's Grinch became a pottymouth.

One word rhymed with "well" and the other with "itchin'," So you see, Jim Carrey's in need of a switchin'!

He'll find some in his stocking, director Ron Howard will, too, Opie, who knows better about clean language than you?

You'll both get switches, even if the movie's PG, That language has no place in children's literature, you see.

Other than that, though, the film was quite funny, It was really only worth the matinee money.

Jim Carrey came through with his energy again, And gave the Grinch a devilish grin. So, would you, could you, watch "The Grinch"?

Could you watch it in a pinch? Would you watch it with a bear? Do you know É and would you care?

If time permits, go see "The Grinch," Even if it's in a pinch. Although don't watch it with a bear, Because you know, we truly care.

Even though tasteful boundaries this flick over-reaches, This film gets two-and-a-half Star-Bellied Sneeches.