R. KellyTrapped in the ClosetChapters: 13 – 22Jive Records
R. Kelly continues the saga of Sylvester, Twon, Chuck, Rufus, Bridget and Big Man with chapters 13 through 22 of his hip-hopera. Kelly adds more drama to the already confusing plot, and the cliffhangers make it impossible to stop watching. It is still unclear whether Kelly realizes the comedic value of his work, but that lends to its humor even more. This is sure to become one of the classics of our generation.
Grade: A+
Sarah Aycock
High School Musical 2Disney Channel
Featuring high-energy performances right from the beginning, this sequel grasps viewers and holds their attention. Though the plot was not as exciting as the first installment, this movie offers more choreography and bigger production scenes. This ratings record-breaker kept a total of 17.2 million viewers glued to their televisions, bringing family viewing back into the home.
Grade: A-
Ashanti Bailey
The Nanny DiariesWeinstein Company
Annie (Scarlett Johansson) does not know what she wants from life, so she becomes Annie the Nanny for an Upper East Side wealthy family. Her employers are such extreme characters – a do-nothing trophy wife and a cheating husband – that this film is almost painful to watch. A few trippy “Mary Poppins”-esque scenes in which Annie levitates from the ground with an umbrella were a bit out of place for this otherwise vanilla chick flick.
Grade: C
Rachel Gibbons
Editor’s Pick
M.I.A.KalaInterscope
For fans of…Timbaland, Girl Talk, DJ Shadow
Hip-hop/electronica sensation M.I.A. is not a typical pop star. A singer of Sri Lankan origin, who often sings of war and violence and whose father was a militant revolutionary, M.I.A. has somehow managed to build a strong following in the United States and much of the Western world. One listen to her latest album will quickly reveal the reason.
Michael Mims
—-Contact the Entertainment Staff at [email protected]