ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
DVDs
Shyamalan creates town
of terror in The Village
Colour of all evil:
Joaquin Phoenix tries to
avoid a brush with danger
in M. Night Shyamalan’s
The Village.
BUENA VIS TA HOME EN TERTAINMEN T, INC.
Suspense guru M. Night Shyamalan has the legendary Hedare’s callous plan to unleash an appall-
sort of a sixth sense for creating jaw- lovers who plunge the world into war, Eric ingly dangerous product into the world.
dropping plot twists and turns. His latest Bana portrays the prince who dares to con- Friday Night Lights. Pigskin, pressure
offering, The Village, continues the tradition. front Achilles and Peter O’Toole rules Troy as and the religion that is Texas high-school
Joaquin Phoenix, Sigourney Weaver, King Priam. Director Wolfgang Petersen re- football are spotlighted in this story of the
William Hurt and Adrien Brody all play resi- creates a long-ago world of bireme warships, 1988 Odessa Permian High Panthers. All of
dents of a close-knit rural Pennsylvania com- clashing armies, the massive fortress city and the dusty town’s hopes and dreams are car-
munity. At first glance, this village seems the towering Trojan Horse. ried on the padded shoulders of these young
picture perfect, but the community lives in Catwoman. Patience Philips (Halle gridiron heroes and their emotional,
fear of the mysterious danger that inhabits the Berry) is a meek, mild-mannered artist who dynamic coach (Billy Bob Thornton).
woods around them. Their fear is so unnerving works for Hedare Beauty, a mammoth cos- Alien vs. Predator. An ancient pyramid
that none dare venture beyond the borders of metics company on the verge of releasing a is discovered buried in the ice of Antarctica,
the village and into the surrounding woods. revolutionary anti-aging product. When and scientists investigating the structure dis-
But when one individual plans to step beyond Patience inadvertently happens upon a dark cover to their horror two races of aliens bat-
the boundaries of the town and into the secret her employer is hiding, she is attacked tling for domination. As the two species fight,
unknown, his bold move threatens to forever and killed. But Patience is given a second humans find themselves caught in the middle.
change their way of life. chance—a second life in which someone not Also, keep an eye out for other new
Troy. Brad Pitt picks up a sword and quite human resides. Someone with the releases arriving soon, including Shark Tale,
brings a muscular presence to the role of strength, speed, agility and ultra-keen senses Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow,
Greek warrior Achilles in this retelling of The of a cat. With her new-found power, Patience Wimbledon and Without a Paddle.
Iliad. Orlando Bloom and Diane Kruger play becomes Catwoman and sets out to stop —Mark E. Stroder
FOR YOUR HEALTH
Start the new year
10. Try to maintain regular times for
going to sleep and getting up.
11. Try having a warm bath or a hot
drink (without alcohol or caffeine) to help
you relax. Research shows that raising
one’s body temperature makes deep, restful
By Dr. Meir Kryger sleep more likely.
with a good night’s sleep
12. Cut down or eliminate cigarette
About 50 million North Americans aren’t cussions about money or major problems and smoking. Limit caffeine dramatically, and if
getting enough sleep, putting them at no exciting TV or books. the insomnia is severe, avoid caffeine after
risk for injuries and health and behav-
5. Do not consume heavy or spicy meals, lunch. Reduce your consumption of alcohol,
iour problems. However, there are which might cause heartburn or discomfort. which can disrupt sleep.
some simple yet effective things you can do
6. If you use an alarm clock, turn it
13. If you are taking medications
right now to ensure a better sleep. away from you. Avoid checking the time and have insomnia, check with a doctor to
1. Make sure that your bedroom offers throughout the night. make sure that the medication is not causing
the right environment to lull you to sleep. At
7. Have a relaxing ritual at bedtime. this symptom.
night your bedroom should be dark, quiet and When you were a child, your parents proba- If having trouble sleeping is still a prob-
the temperature comfortable. The mattress bly read to you to get you into a relaxed frame lem, you may need to be evaluated by a med-
and pillows should be comfortable. of mind to help you sleep. Such rituals are a ical practitioner or even referred to a sleep
2. The bedroom should be used for sleep good idea for all ages. specialist. C
andsexonly.
8. Avoid daytime or evening naps
3. If you can’t fall asleep after 15 to 20 (especially in the four to five hours before Meir Kryger, M.D., is director of the Sleep
minutes, get out of bed and do something else bedtime). If you must take a nap, make sure Disorders Centre at St. Boniface Hospital
that is relaxing. Becoming frustrated because that it lasts not more than 10 to 20 minutes. Research Centre, and author of Can’t Sleep,
you’re not falling asleep makes things worse.
9. Get plenty of exercise, but not too Can’t Stay Awake (HarperCollins, 2004).
4. Avoid activity that might cause your close to bedtime, as your body may release
brain to be excessively aroused before going chemicals that wake up your brain and make
to sleep. That means no arguments, no dis- it more difficult to sleep.
